Review – Drypond Eyewear Anton Sunglasses

In the past, it felt that the only way to get a half-decent pair of sunnies was to spend well over $200 on a designer pair from one of the big names. Thankfully a new wave of optics makers is bridging the gap. Brands like Shwood, Shinzo Tamura, and Raen are just a few names offering quality sunglasses for an honest price, crafting them with quality materials and with longevity in mind. Another such brand is Drypond Eyewear, a young eyewear brand that utilizes a family history of eyewear production to produce handmade glasses with quality materials and high-end finishing.

Drypond was founded in 2022 by Aidan Cheung, the son of an eyewear artisan. After years of producing eyewear for other factories, Cheung’s father opened his eyewear facility in the early 2000s, with the view of specializing in handmade frames. Just 20 years later, that same factory produces all of Drypond’s glasses, using materials like Italian acetate and fine titanium to create sturdy sunglasses with a timeless aesthetic.

Drypond is a representation of family and legacy — an ongoing dialogue between generations. The brand believes in the importance of craftsmanship, artisanal products and voice of culture. When choosing priorities, Drypond is persistent in the mechanical world while adapting to innovation and design. With full focus on what is present and abundantly available, Drypond denies the need to predict future trends

Today, we’ll be reviewing Drypond’s Anton sunglasses in Clear Brown, focusing on aesthetic, build quality, performance, and value for money.

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Available at Drypond for $145

Unboxing

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Upon unboxing the Drypond Anton, I was pleased to find a laminated cardboard box with a magnetic closure, which housed the sunglasses in their custom leather case. The box itself is disposable and nothing to write home about, but I’ve ordered sunglasses from huge brands that have arrived in a case within a generic brown box. The Drypond branded box is a nice touch which also allows you can store to the glasses away with extra protection if you want.

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The custom leather case is really clean. I’d like the option for a leather-free case with my purchase but it is a nice little case with a matte hand feel. The velveteen lining keeps things soft and protects the sunglasses, which also come with a Drypond branded cleaning cloth.

Aesthetic & Performance

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Drypond got the aesthetic of their whole collection on point, in my opinion, but the Anton was the silhouette that called to me. I have to say the overall shape of the frame is fantastic, with really nice curves — especially on the arms — and an ornate nose bridge.

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The Anton has a vintage feel without looking antiquated, and I love how the clear frame allows you to see how the glasses come together construction-wise. I was worried that the Italian acetate wouldn’t look as good in person as it did on the Drypond website, but it looks awesome. The Clear Brown colorway is rich and has smoky bits of darker acetate that are visible when observed in brighter light. The lenses are dark enough to provide you with all the protection you need without overwhelming the lighter colorway of the frame.

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The nose pads move quite a bit, which at first I thought felt cheap, but I quickly realized that this allows the glasses to adjust to the contours of your nose, providing a snug fit that looks intentional and proper. I have a pretty slim nose, so this was a godsend. In fact, I’ve never had such a decent fit from an off-rack pair of sunglasses — I’ve always needed a custom fitting.

In terms of performance, these things keep the sun out of your eyes no problem. The lenses offer 100% UV protection and are polarized, and I have to say glare levels are pretty minimal whilst rocking these. I’ll shout out the nose pads again, too, for keeping these securely on my face. The temple tips of the arms also have a subtly rounded bulge where the arms meet the back of your head. This also adds to the snug (not tight) fit whilst feeling lovely when you slide them off and on.

Construction

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I’m no eyewear specialist, but my first pair of Dryponds feels solid. They have all the hallmarks of a high-quality pair, including five barrel hinges which are inset into the frame and arms, a feature that’s visible through my clear frames. I believe cheap sunglasses simply stick a hinge between the frame and arms, whereas you can clearly see these things are properly built, engineered to last, and potentially survive you sitting on them on vacations or something (we’ve all been there).

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As I mentioned earlier, the nose pads — which are made from metal — do look a bit loose at first, and have a rattling sound due to their movement. If you’re someone who dislikes any sort of ‘rattle’ with your goods, these things will bug you. But having worn them for 2 weeks now, I personally don’t think I’d want the nose pads changed. If there was a way to keep them moving as much as they do without the rattle — great — but the current nose pad setup wouldn’t keep me from investing in a pair.

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In general, the construction is simple. Metal and acetate – how it should be. Drypond has used ‘fine but strong’ titanium and Italian acetate, which are both pretty premium materials at this price point.

How does Drypond keep costs lower whilst delivering a premium product? Well, having unfettered access to its own factory resources is a key consideration that cuts outsourcing costs, and the fact that the factory is in the eyewear-making capital of China, Shenzhen, means that there is no shortage of eyewear artisans who can handmake glasses to Drypond’s standards.

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Images via Drypond

Value For Money

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If you’re looking for high-quality heritage-inspired sunglasses, I would seriously recommend checking out Drypond. For under $150, you can invest in a pretty serious set of specs that look and feel like they will last a very long while. Not to mention the fact that Drypond offers a limited-year warranty.

As I said at the beginning of this review, there are a few brands running this model of affordable well-made eyewear. But so far, Drypond is the one that’s impressed me the most.

Available at Drypond for $145


Want to learn more about sunglasses? Check out:

An In Depth History of Sunglasses

Polarized Sunglasses: How do They Work?

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